Afriforum Youth not fit to judge SAHRC

The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN) acting on behalf of its alumni members notes the latest publicity stunt by the so-called Afriforum Youth in trying to downplay the good work undertaken by the South African Human Rights Commission (the Commission) as led by the honorable Advocate Lawrence Mushwana .

No one should be allowed to be a stumbling block in the way of transformation, especially those who were silent during the dark days of Apartheid. HETN salutes the South African Human Rights Commission for doing everything in its power to try and correct the wrongs of the past and indeed to push back the after effects of apartheid colonialism despite the constant opposition from the beneficiaries of apartheid. Contrary to the myopic views represented by Afriforum Youth, the Commission is indeed dedicated to rooting out racism from all sectors of society.

All peace loving people should therefore rally behind the Commission as it strives to create a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic country.

A black student died at the Potchefstroom campus of the NWU under very suspicious circumstances and when the Commission asks for the reasons that could have led to the death of the student, Afriforum says the work of the Commission is not credible. Day in day out, Black people are called with derogatory names such as baboons, monkeys, little black bitches etc.; and when the Commission wants to investigate, all Afriforum says is that the work of the Commission is not credible.

A farmer killed his black employee and later said he thought he was shooting at a monkey; and when the commission wants answers, Afriforum says the Commission is biased.

One of the four women who were forced to eat food with urine in it by the Reitz Four students at the University of Free State explained a very painful and humiliating experience that she suffered at the brutal hands of the students. Amongst other things in the video, Laukaziemma Koko, told the British Sunday Times.: "When they filmed us... they were laughing so hard there were tears in their eyes," To this day, Koko still wonders what was in that stew they were forced to eat. Yet despite all the humiliation that they suffered all that Afriforum can say is that the Commission is biased.

Afriforum as a white Afrikaner minority organization should be grateful that the democratic dispensation led by the ANC has created an environment where the rights of the minority are prioritized; however these rights should not be abused.

Regrettably, HETN would like to state that Afriforum Youth does not qualify to challenge an organization of SAHRC's calibre. The only thing that HETN can do under the circumstances is to advice Afriforum Youth to approach the Commission without delay and issue an immediate apology for their misunderstanding of how the Commission functions.

Statement issued by Mr Hendrick Makaneta: Director: Alumni Support and Media relations, HETN, August 4 2014

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